<p>Certainly in the sciences, and often in engineering the admission decisions for graduate schools that are highly regarded place a great deal of weight on professor recommendations, and your technical achievements (beyond grades). The reputation of the recommending professor matters. And the admissions committee, unlike that for undergraduates, is made up of department heads and senior professors in the field. So the recommendations that count are specific, technical and brutally honest – good and bad.</p>
<p>It is very difficult to obtain the experience, the opportunity, and the mentoring that is necessary to be successful in graduate school in colleges/universities who’s main focus is primarily to prepare students for the workplace immediately on graduation. If your intention is graduate school pick undergraduate colleges that can effectively prepare you for graduate school.</p>